Universal blade adapter

Abstract

A blade adapter for a reciprocating-type saw permits non-standard blades to be used in the saw. The blade adapter is sized and configured to be fit inside of a blade clamp of the saw, and includes an interior perimeter which accepts the shank of a non-standard saw blade. The blade adapter positions the saw blade inside of the blade clamp so that it can be clamped therein for cutting. It is simple to use and easily manufactured.

I claim:  
     
       1. A blade adapting system comprising: 
       a blade clamp having a space adapted for accepting the shank of a first saw blade;  
       a second saw blade having a shank;  
       a blade adapter comprising:  
       an end portion with an interior edge and an exterior edge;  
       a first side portion with an interior edge and an exterior edge;  
       a second side portion with an interior edge and an exterior edge;  
       an exterior perimeter of the blade adapter formed by the exterior edges of the end portion, the first side portion, and the second side portion, the exterior perimeter sized to fit inside of the blade clamp in the space for accepting the first saw blade shank; and,  
       an interior perimeter of the blade adapter formed by the interior edges of the end portion, the first side portion, and the second side portion, the interior perimeter sized to accept the shank of the second saw blade, wherein the first saw blade shank and the second saw blade shank are different sizes.  
     
     
       2. The blade adapting system of  claim 1  in combination with a reciprocating saw wherein the blade clamp is attached to the reciprocating saw and the second saw blade is adapted to fit a jig saw. 
     
     
       3. The combination of  claim 2  wherein the blade adapter is thicker than the second saw blade. 
     
     
       4. The combination of  claim 3  wherein the blade adapter is manufactured from steel in a stamping process. 
     
     
       5. The combination of  claim 4  further comprising: 
       at least one finger adapted to extend from the blade clamp to allow a user to grasp the at least one finger when the blade adapter is fitted in the blade clamp and thereby remove the blade adapter.  
     
     
       6. The blade adapting system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
       at least one finger adapted to extend from the blade clamp to allow a user to grasp the at least one finger when the blade adapter is fitted in the blade clamp and thereby remove the blade adapter.  
     
     
       7. A method of adapting a reciprocating saw to accept non-standard saw blades utilizing the blade adapting system according to  claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of: 
       fitting the blade adapter inside of the blade clamp; and,  
       fitting the second saw blade inside of the interior perimeter of the blade adapter so that the second saw blade is supported by the blade clamp for cutting.  
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7  wherein the second saw blade is a jig saw blade. 
     
     
       9. A blade adapting system for permitting a saw to utilize non-standard saw blades comprising: 
       a blade clamp adapted to be mounted to a saw, the blade clamp having a space sized for the shank of a first saw blade and a blade biasing means for holding a saw blade in the blade clamp;  
       a second saw blade having a shank; and  
       a blade adapter;  
       wherein the blade adapter and the second saw blade are fitted in the space of the blade clamp, the shank of the second saw blade being positioned by the blade adapter in the space so that the blade biasing means biases against the second saw blade thereby holding the second saw blade in the blade clamp, and the first saw blade shank and the second saw blade shank are different sizes.  
     
     
       10. The blade adapting system according to  claim 9  wherein the saw is a reciprocating saw and the second saw blade is sized to fit a jig saw. 
     
     
       11. The blade adapting system according to  claim 9  wherein: 
       the means blade biasing comprises a ball biased by a spring; and  
       the second saw blade shank has a hole formed therein, the second saw blade shank being positioned in the blade clamp by the blade adapter so that the ball is biased into the hole.  
     
     
       12. The blade adapting system according to  claim 11  wherein the saw is a reciprocating saw and the second saw blade is sized to fit a jig saw. 
     
     
       13. The blade adapting system according to  claim 9  wherein the blade adapter is a generally U-shaped member with an end portion having first and second distal ends, a first side portion connected to the first distal end, and a second side portion connected to the second distal end. 
     
     
       14. The blade adapting system according to  claim 13  wherein the first side portion comprises a finger which extends from the blade clamp to allow a user to grasp the finger when removing the blade adapter from the blade clamp. 
     
     
       15. The blade adapting system according to  claim 13  wherein: 
       the means blade biasing comprises a ball biased by a spring; and  
       the second saw blade shank has a hole formed therein, the second saw blade shank being positioned in the blade clamp by the blade adapter so that the ball is biased into the hole.  
     
     
       16. The blade adapting system according to  claim 15  wherein the first side portion comprises a finger which extends from the blade clamp to allow a user to grasp the finger when removing the blade adapter from the blade clamp. 
     
     
       17. The blade adapting system according to  claim 15  wherein the saw is a reciprocating saw and the second saw blade is sized to fit a jig saw. 
     
     
       18. The blade adapting system according to  claim 17  wherein the blade adapter is made from steel in a stamping process.